Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl

Levin was an American war correspondent working in London in 1943. He was one of the first American journalists to enter a work camp and was scarred by the horrors he witnessed in Ohrdruf, Bergen-Belsen and Dachau. When Levin read Anne Frank’s diary, he saw its potential as a dramatic production. However, Levin’s original full-length dramatic adaptation of The Diary of a Young Girl was never produced. Rather, a new adaptation by Albert Hackett and Frances Goodrich was selected for commercial production. His radio play, adapted from his original play, was broadcast twice in 1952 but was shelved in the face of a well-documented battle for the right to have his play produced.

Snapshot

Notes:

Jennifer Strome, who produced the 2009 revival of the radio play, worked to make it available as an educational and community resource. See annefrankunites.org

Original or Prominent Production: September 18, 1952 on CBS; September 14, 2009, Jennifer Strome produced a private live performance of Levin’s radio play at the Museum of Jewish Heritage in New York City.